Head Coach Brian Daboll
A: Pretty good day. It was good to get a win at home. A lot of guys played well. That's how the offense needs to perform. That's how the quarterback needs to perform. So, when you do that and you win the turnover ratio, you have a chance to score points and win.
Q: When you walk into the locker room after what everybody has been through, coaches and players. There's got to be smiling faces. What's it like walking into that locker room today?
A: I'm just happy for the players and for the coaches. It's a tough season. But we got a lot of good people, a lot of good character people on our football team. They work every day. It's good to see results. It's good to see a smile on their faces. I'm happy for the players and the coaches that put so much into it.
Q: This has got to be a relief for you too. This has been a long season. So, I know everything's about the players and the organization, but personally, this has to be a great feeling for yourself…
A: Really, I'm happy for the players and the coaches. Those guys put a lot into it. They come out, they grind every day and they have good attitudes. It's never easy when you're losing. But I'm proud of the character of the people in the building and I'm mostly happy for them.
Q: Did you have any inkling that you could have a big day offensively? It just hasn't been there…
A: I think if you get good quarterback play, you have an opportunity in every game, and if you don't turn the football over and you make critical plays at critical times. I think we were good on third down. I think we were good in the red zone. (Quarterback) Drew (Lock) made good decisions, had a lot of alerts, but that's the start of it. Then you have to play good complementary football. So, to get some turnovers… We gave up some big plays that we got to continue to work on. But credit the players for making the plays that they made. I think (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) and (running back Tyrone) Tracy (Jr.) have some deal that they got. I'm Happy for those guys. But mostly I'm happy for the collective of getting a win.
Q: It would've been easy for these guys, just a couple weeks left in the season and the way this season has gone, to just cash it in. What does it say that it didn't happen? That's a pretty legitimate performance.
A: I've had a lot of confidence in the people in our building and the way they operate, not the results, obviously. But, coming back from injuries that are pretty good injuries and they fight back to perform at the end of the year. I've been on some other teams…. It's a credit to the coaches, battling through it with the players who are injured, who come back, who compete, who work hard every day, are in early and have extra meetings in December when you don't have a very good record. But there's a process that we believe in and they keep fighting through it. I'm just happy that they can have a smile on their face and get a win. So, I'm proud of the guys. I was proud of them in some of those games where we lost. We just got to keep battling through it.
Q: How impressive is it…
A: Is that a turtleneck?
Q: It is a turtleneck. You like it?
A: Not for me, but (laughs)…
Q: What do you make of Malik (Nabers) reaching 100 catches and 1,000 yards as a rookie?
A: That's why we drafted him, where we drafted him. I've been asked about it since training camp and I think the response has been, 'He's a pretty good football player.' He missed two games and he's battling through, I'd say, a pretty good injury with his toe. So, I think between him and (Tyrone) Tracy, for those guys to do it in a season like this with a variety of quarterbacks, I think that's pretty impressive. They are the right kind of guys.
Q: You've been talking about explosive plays. These were not downfield explosive plays. These were generated explosive plays, weren't they?
A: There was a couple variety. We threw a couple go (routes) to Malik (Nabers) on 'check with me's' with guys we wanted to attack. We talk about run-after-catch all the time and we have good run-after-catch players. It's about ball placement. It's about reading. It's about getting it to them on time. It's about the protection element. Drew (Lock) played… This was his fourth game he started. Obviously, he had three start that weren't great. But did a good job during the week of being focused. I give (Offensive Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach) Shea Tierney a ton of credit, working with him. He did a great job with him. Just like he did (quarterback Tommy) DeVito last… He (Drew Lock) played well today. But other people played well. I had him break them down and that's the first thing he said. I said, 'Hey, great game.' But he said, 'Hey, there's 10 guys around me on offense and 11 on defense.' What about (wide receiver) Ihmir (Smith-Marsette)? What a great return to start out in the second half. I don't think he was touched, great blocking. That's what it needs to look like, though. You need to win the turnover ratio. You need good quarterback play. You need to take the ball away. You need run after catch. You need explosive plays. You need good tackling. There's no secret to this league. If you do all those things, you have a chance. It doesn't guarantee you anything.
Q: You emphasized the good quarterback play. Why do you think it took until Week 17 to get good quarterback play?
A: It's his (Drew Lock's) fourth start. Again, he played well. It's not an easy position to play. I don't know how many have won Super Bowls for the last 23 years. It's a hard position to play. Drew (Lock) would be the first or Tommy (DeVito) to say, look, we all got to do better. You can put that on me. I was proud of the way he (Drew Lock) played.
Q: Did you do anything specific to simplify things or make it easier for him?
A: No, we had a fair amount of alerts today. One play here, one play next. Again, it's not a big secret. We made plays down the field. We ran after the catch. We controlled the line of scrimmage. We took the ball away. It's not… We played well.
Q: What are the qualities of good quarterback play that you are saying you finally saw today?
A: We won the turnover ratio. We took care of the ball. We've been turning it over and you can't do that in this league. We won the quarterback rating, which is usually about a 90% chance that you're going to win the game when you win the quarterback rating between the other quarterback. He made good decisions with the football and gave our guys opportunities. We played good in the red zone. We did well on third down. Those are all situational things that you need good play. I credit a lot of the other guys, too, around him. (Wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) had that drop over on the sideline when they brought the safety for the pressure off the edge. He had a drop and then he made two plays, huge plays, in those drives to go-ahead. Malik (Nabers) had a nice run after catch on a little boot. (Wide receiver Darius) Slayton made a great run after catch. We gave Malik (Nabers) chances down the field, chances down the field to make plays. Then he operated. He operated well. But, again, it takes everybody.
Q: You talked about the players but what does this win mean to you?
A: I just focus on those guys. For the fans, too. The fans, the ones that were out there cheering their tails off, we certainly appreciate that. But, again, I see these coaches every day come in and are consistent. It's hard to be consistent in an inconsistent league when things go… It's not great. We haven't had a good record. I firmly acknowledge that and I accept responsibility for that. But their commitment to doing things the right way, day in and day out, staying late and putting together plans much like the players when we're down and we got two wins. We have the right kind of people. It was good to get a win at home, I'll say that. It was good to get a win at home. But it means more to me for the players and the coaches.
Q: With Ihmir (Smith-Marsette) getting that return, I think a couple weeks ago he had one that was taken away by a penalty…
A: Yeah, against the Saints.
Q: How big was it for him to finally get one?
A: It was great. It was another explosive play. It was blocked well. I don't think he broke stride. He hit it. It was well blocked. (Special Teams Coordinator) Ghoby (Michael Ghobrial), (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Stephen Thomas and (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Cam (Achord) are good football coaches. It came together on that play and gave us some juice there. Indianapolis (and us) were scoring back and forth until we got that turnover late. But it was a good day for the players and for the coaches on the sideline.
Q: What does it mean for you to snap the skid and to be able, at least, do it at home?
A: It was great to get a win at home. Great to get a win.
Q: Does it mean more to get it at home maybe considering the way the season was playing out?
A: Winning at home is important and we haven't done it. So, I accept responsibility for that. But, to finish the way they finished here… I think they are good guys that do everything they can. They put it together today to get one. So, it's good to get a win, if that answers your question.
Q: Do you think today was evidence that if you get consistent in quarterback play that you as the coach are the right person to keep leading this team?
A: I understand the question. I'm just happy for the players and the coaches right now to get a win. I'm happy with Drew (Lock) and how he played. I'm proud of him. It wasn't great last week. I was on him pretty good. But he's a mentally tough guy and had a good week. Now we got to do it all over next week.
Q: What do you mean when you say that you were on him pretty good?
A: I get on the quarterbacks pretty good.
Q: Are you specifically talking about because of the pick-sixes last week?
A: Yeah, can't turn it over. Teams are 0-15 in the last however many years when throwing two pick sixes for touchdowns. The average point differential is about 25 points. So, it's not good play. But, to have a game like that and bounce back, when things weren't great and I'm yelling at him and things like that… I got a lot of respect for Drew (Lock). I know he knows that. But I'm proud of him for the way he competed and came out and played.
Quarterback Drew Lock
Q: What was it like to get that first win at home in front of fans this season?
A: They deserved it. The locker room deserved it. Everybody a part of this organization deserved it. It was a lot of fun. A lot of fun. We were clicking today. We knew we had it in us. It was just time to go out and show it and do it and make plays when they were there. Sure enough, we went out and did that today. So, it was a fun time. Really good time.
Q: Talk about (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) and his impact today…
A: Yeah, first off, congrats to him. 1,000 yards (from scrimmage). Rookie. What a beast. What a dude. He's going to be great. He's going to be great for a really long time. He's going to keep working. The mentality he has, he's just going to keep getting better. And I feel like you kind of saw that throughout the year. Yeah, that Browns game was impressive early in the year. But with each game, when he was healthy, or he wasn't really truly healthy, banged up going out there to play, kept making an impact, kept making more of an impact as the year went on. And that's hard to do with a guy that made such a big impact early in the year. Being able to consistently hang with that and be that guy, it's impressive.
Q: In your view, what makes him so special?
A: He's just got this ability to get open. I know that's kind of a basic answer. Great feel, great spatial awareness. There's a threat of the deep ball with him. But at the same time, he's got good releases off the ball. He studies corners, he just does things the right way.
Q: After last week's loss and people looking at number one draft picks and finishing out the season, you guys did not mail it in, played hard, broke the losing streak. How satisfying is that?
A: It's really satisfying, especially to be up here and answer questions after those losses and say, 'you know, we're not packing them in.' We're going to come out and work. We're going to keep doing the things throughout the week that we need to do to try to put ourselves in the best situations to win. And for that not just to be word vomit, for us to actually go out and do it. Because you get up here and you say the same things those three games, like, 'You've got to be better at the ball. Can't give it to the other team. You've got to make the plays when they're there, no, we're not done. We're going to keep practicing, going out and give an effort.' Because that is what we're going to go do. But to be able to go out and do that and have a little proof in the pudding there, it means a lot.
Q: What did it mean to you to bounce back in the way that you did from last week to this week?
A: It means a lot. I knew it was in me. I knew we could go out and do it. It takes everybody. That's the quarterback position. It takes everybody and those guys played their butt off for me today. Last week being the way it was, not playing up to my standard. Not playing up to the standard that (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs holds me to or (Offensive Passing Game Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach) Shea (Tierney) holds me to. It was disappointing, yeah. But we regrouped, fought throughout the week, rehabbed, studied, practiced, came out here, and it just played out the way it should have.
Q: Daboll said he got after you a little bit this weekend, after Sunday. What kind of things was he saying to you?
A: Yeah, Dabs is fiery. But at the same time, I grew up playing hoops in good old Kansas City, Missouri. Shout out to Nodie Newton (AAU Basketball). I've been jumped before. I've been yelled at. (Head Coach) Eric Thomas, Lee's Summit High School, he got at me. I've been around that. I'm used to that. Kind of gets me going. You can shell up or you can take it like a man. I've always been the one that kind of gets me going. I need a little bit of that. We had good conversations. He expects a lot from me, as I do myself. I can at least appreciate that. If things go bad and you don't have someone yelling at you, the classic, there should be some concern. But that is the exact opposite of Dabs. He cares about his guys. He cares about me, expects the world from me. We went out there and did that today.
Q: Did something feel different in practice this week? I mean, you said you knew it was in there. But a dramatic change from two pick-sixes to five total touchdowns. What went different? Are you at all surprised by today's outcome?
A: Throughout the week, when you're practicing, a lot of guys, we talked through this week – this was a great week of practice for us. Not that previous weeks weren't, but a great week as far as when we made the mistakes, they were good mistakes to make then. Correct, be ready for this game. When we went out here today, bottom line was there's 11 of us out there on offense. I know the stats are going to lean heavy towards me, but those 10 guys came to play today. Getting the ball in those guys' hands. O-line, I think I hit the ground once and it was probably on the run. That would be my fault, not theirs. Just firing on all cylinders. (Guard) Jake Kubas, second start. (Guard Greg Van Roten) GVR, popping to center. (guard Aaron) Stinnie coming back from a concussion. (Tackle) Jermaine (Eluemunor), fighting back from injury, playing these last two weeks. (Tackle) Evan (Neal), coming out there. We're scrappy. Getting those guys together, that's a unit that's played, that was their first time playing together. Just impressive, really impressive, those guys.
Q: In the wake of your touchdown run, do you think the Eagles will have to spy you next week?
A: If they want to, I guess. I don't know if (Eagles Defensive Coordinator) Vic's (Fangio) done too much spying in his career and he probably definitely won't do it against me, but we'll see.
Q: How good of a feeling is today, going home?
A: Yeah, I'm excited. Excited to go home. I have my mom, my dad, sister, her fiancé, obviously the kiddo. Mom and sister stayed back, got to watch from home, but the rest came into the game. It's going to be a cool ride home, going home to see the kid. First time going home with a win to the kid. He doesn't really care, he doesn't know, but it'll feel cool. He might see a bigger smile out of me when he sees me. He won't understand why (laughs), but maybe one day he will.
Q: What do you have to say to the fans who have bought into the tank, the fans who didn't want to win today?
A: I'd say that's just a part of the game. When you've got the draft involved, it's not college. You don't get to pick where you go with the draft being involved. The playoff is out of contention, you understand what they're saying. But at the same time, like I said, it's nice to say we're going to go work, we're going to keep doing this, we're going to keep pushing, the season's not over, we've got two games left to be able to come out and win this one – that's the goal every single week, come out and win and work as hard as we can to do it.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers
Q: What was it like getting your first win in front of these fans?
A: It felt good. It felt good to go out there with my brothers on the last home game and get a win for all the fans that came out today. So, it felt good.
Q: Obviously, you had a big day but along with (New York Giants RB) Tyrone (Tracy Jr.) you both are like the third rookie duo in NFL history to gain over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. What does it mean to you to be able to do that with him, another rookie?
A: It's kudos to him and me that we came out here, come out there in practice, do our job and then come in the game and contribute to help the team win, and do as much as possible so we can win. Seeing Tyrone go out every day at practice and do the things that he do, it's amazing. Me and him have been uplifting each other through the season. We had stuff at the beginning of the season that didn't go our way, but we stayed down with each other, uplifted each other and it's paying off.
Q: The touchdown can you talk about that? Did you split the two guys?
A: Which one?
Q: The one down the right sideline.
A: They both was on the right sideline. The first one or second one?
Q: The longer one.
A: Yeah, I mean I turned around and the ball was right there, and then I was just like, I saw both of them coming and I just split both of them, because that's the only way I could have went and then after that, I just felt nobody on me (so) I just kept running.
Q: With everything you've gone through this year, and you kind of talked about it last week during practice, but just the idea of injuries, things haven't gone your way as a team, individually you were out for a while. How hard was it to make sure your focus stayed on this season, and you didn't start thinking about, well next year I could do this or do that?
A: Right, I mean because we're still locked in on this season. We still had two games left, so to take my mind off of those two games left to worry about next year, it wouldn't be right and it's not going to be a smooth sailing ride. It's going to be a bumpy road. I've been learning that my whole life, but learning how to keep my mental strength. Keep my focus locked in on this year, what's leaving my legacy on this year and then continuing after the year is over. Then, focusing on next year.
Q: Getting over 100 catches and getting over 1,000 yards today, what does that mean to you?
A: It means a lot. Coming in as a rookie to do those things. It's been a long time, I don't know how long it's been since it happened, but it's been great for me to have the opportunity to do it. But I want to thank my offensive line, my quarterbacks that have been throwing me the ball, my receivers in my room, you know? Even though they don't get as many targets as I do a game, they still find a way to uplift me and encourage me every week at practice, and still continue to be proud of what I've done, be proud of what we have done as an organization, as a group. So, just having those guys alongside me it's been a lot. It means a lot to me to have those guys and going out there and playing a football game with those guys.
Q: How close to 100% are you?
A: How close? I really don't know. I've been knicked up a few of times in my career, but I always find a way to just go out in the game and play a good game. So, I'm not really worried about being 100%. I feel like you're never going to be 100% playing this sport. You just go out there and do what you can even though you're knicked up and bruised up.
Q: Were you at all surprised about the offensive outpouring you guys had today?
A: No, I just feel like that's how it should have been. When 11 guys are on the field doing their job the way it's supposed to be that's the way it's supposed to look like. So, and Drew was doing a hell of a job of delivering the football to as many receivers as he could. The O-Line was giving him some time to throw the ball, so that's what it should look like. That's what it should look like.
Q: What do you say to those Giant fans who wanted the number one pick, and now the Giants are at the three or four in the draft order, what would you tell them?
A: I mean, I don't got really nothing to say about that. I don't got nothing to say about that. (Inaudible).
Q: When you look back at your play over the season what do you think you learned as a professional?
A: It's hard to win in this league, for sure. It's going to be a bumpy ride. There's going to be games you thought you should have one. There's going to be games you go in and think you should win, and games you go in and be like not sure, but the games you're not so sure about, that's the games that you want to play and the games that when you win you celebrate more. I would say just going into every game just expecting to win even though it's hard to win in this league. You expect to win in every game that you're going in.
Q: You mentioned Drew and how was able to spread the ball around today, but what did you think about him bouncing back from last week today and the way that he did?
A: It shows his dawg mentality. Even though he had a bad game last game, for him to see the television on that and to come out in practice, do the things that he did in practice and get that encouragement back from his teammates to go out here and play a great game. It's kudos to him. He looked over the film, found some things that he could get better on and did all that through the week, and it showed how good it can be.
Q: With you, I think a month and a half ago maybe, when you started to be the guy that everybody went to after the game and the media started talking to you about what this team could do differently, I sensed kind of an evolution for you in how you were speaking for the team and not necessarily just for yourself. Did you feel that at all? Is there anything to that, that stepping up and developing in that way in front of the microphone for you every week, being the guy that everyone is coming to talk to to represent the team verses just representing Malik?
A: Even though I'm a young player, I've been taught previously where I was before, so kudos to (Louisiana State University WR Football) Coach (Cortez) Hankton to get me ready for that, but it's not about just me. It's about the team. This is a team sport. It's 11 guys on the field. I'm educated enough to speak for the whole team, because I'm playing but for the team to give me that role and give me that job, I'm grateful for it and I hope I've been doing a great job in speaking for the team.
Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Q: Tyrone, for those under a rock, who did not know that you and Malik Nabers [Giants Rookie WR Malik Nabers] both getting the 1,000+ yards-from-scrimmage as a rookie duo, it is the third-ever [rookie combo] in NFL history. You are a big part of history now, what does that mean to you and what do you think that means to your partner over there Malik?
A: I mean, to me personally, that means a lot. When put a lot of work into something and you see that you are reaping the benefits of it, it feels really good and then for him [Malik Nabers], I know he works hard, I see it for myself. To see him have success and the way he is having success, and he missed a couple of games this season, it's just remarkable. I think God puts certain people in certain situations and gives them certain opportunities and I just think that we are here for a reason, I really do. I believe that we are here for a reason and I think that this is just the beginning of something special. I'm just blessed to be here and part of this organization [the New York Football Giants].
Q: You have been banged up yourself now for a little while, but yet you continue to forge forward, as has everybody did to get this win today. What does that tell people about the guts and determination of the young guys on this team?
A: I feel like it has been evident the entire season, if you watch our games, towards the end of it, we are always playing hard. The rookies, or the players, give up or to wave the white flag. We are always going to play hard to the end of the game, so for me personally, when you have guys like Malik [Malik Nabers], T-Nub [Giants Rookie Safety Tyler Nubin], Theo [Giants Rookie TE Theo Johnson], that are out there playing hard each and every snap, mind you the vets but I'm really just naming the rookies right now. You want to play hard with them. You want to end up having success with them, so I feel like we are a strong group, we are a hard-working group and at the end of the day, we are not going to give up. We are very resilient and will continue to be that way.
Q: This is the first time since before the pandemic that the Giants have put up over 40+ points in a game. What was going so right today that you couldn't get that going earlier in the season?
A: I think just explosiveness and we didn't turn the ball over. We made them [the Indianapolis Colts offense] turn the ball over, so we won the turnover battle, and we had explosive plays down the field. I think that opens up a lot of passes and it also puts the defense on their heels because what we are doing is being affective, so they have to try and do something different than what they have been doing. I think we are just playing well, everyone is executing a high-level and the details are down. These are things that I said back in Week 5 or Week 6 or whatever that I feel like today, we actually did it. We went out and executed and we are reaping the rewards right now.
Q: Tyrone, what does this game say about [Giants Starting QB] Drew Lock? Daboll [Giants Head Coach Brain Daboll] admitted a little while ago that he got on him pretty good last week. To have him respond this week, to have the type of game he did.
A: I feel like Drew [Lock] is a resilient type of player, like he's not going to quit just because of a bad game. This is the NFL, everyone is going to have a bad game and everyone is going to have that game to where you need to rise up, and that was this game for him today. He came out and he showed us the type of quarterback he is and the type of player that he is and I think the team responded, honestly, I think the team responded. He went out there and played his behind off.
Outside linebacker Brian Burns
Q: How much did you guys just need this?
A: We needed it a lot. It was good to win at home, good to feel that. It's been a while.
Q: First time for you?
A: To win at home? Yeah.
Q: Yeah, here. A new home.
A: Yeah, it's big.
Q: What's it like to finally see smiles in this room and chatter and noise after a win?
A: It's fun. It's something we've got to feel a lot more next year.
Q: Is the emotion you're feeling – is it relief? Is that the right word for it? Like the 10-game losing streak is over, the winless at home, all that stuff is gone.
A: I think it's just joy.
Q: Did you get a hand on that (nickelback Dru) Phillips interception?A: I don't know.
Q: You did.
A: I was there. I don't know. A lot of things were there. I don't know.
Q: I was saying the one Dru intercepted though. Did you get a piece of his hand or the ball?
A: I hit a lot of stuff. I don't know. I didn't watch it yet. It was a sack.
Q: What did you think of the way the offense played? It's been such a struggle to score points, and then all of a sudden, they're coming in bunches.
A: That's usually how it works. I don't know, it was clicking on a different cylinder today. Leek (wide receiver Malik Nabers) had a lot of explosives (plays). I think had like five or six catches – something like that. But it a lot of explosives on all cylinders. They played a clean game.
Q: The number one thing going on in the fanbase now is that there's people going, 'Oh, the Giants cost themselves a better draft pick.' You've been in this situation in Carolina (with the Panthers), obviously. Do players care about that at all?
A: That's more of an upstairs thing. They'll figure out however they want to play those cards.
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